Top 7 Best Audio Widgets for Windows Computers
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Mini Music Studio
Lightweight and easy-to-use gadget that enables you to easily and quickly create interesting songs and look up keywords on the Internet.
Mini Music Studio is a small piece of software developed in Flash, that can help individuals create simple songs, as well as search for items on the Internet.
The interface is simple and highly intuitive, which means that any type of person is able to use it properly, no matter how inexperienced they are regarding computers.
The widget has two different sizes which you can toggle between. The small one can be used in order to make the window non-obtrusive, while the larger one enables you to make music. It displays an animated theme with dancing girls as well. When the last mode is activated, you can also use a search tool that is connected to Google.
There are six different types of drum and bass loops, as well as effects that you can select in order to start mixing. The latter ones only last for a few seconds, while the rest stop only when closing them. It is possible to activate several types of bass loops at a time.
When the frame is maximized, you can zoom in and out, and change the quality of the background picture from high to low or medium.
Right-clicking on the small window brings up a context menu similar to the one present in most Windows Gadgets. Here, you can add new gadgets, move or force Mini Music Studio's frame to always stay on top of other programs, as well as control the opacity (from 20% to 100%) and size.
To sum up, Mini Music Studio is a fun widget that helps you create simple songs, directly from the desktop. The interface is intuitive and unobtrusive, and you have access to a small search tool connected to Google.
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Brinked Ringtone Maker
Simple widget that integrates audio playing functionality together with the possibility to create ringtones from local files or from online sources.
Brinked Ringtone Maker is a gadget app designed to offer a simple alternative to create ringtones from local files or YouTube videos. There is also the possibility to download files that have already been prepared.
Installing the gadget
Gadgets are part of operating systems predating Windows 8 but with a special software you can easily bring them to the latest Windows revisions. 8GadgetPack is specially designed for this job.
With this utility on the computer all gadgets are automatically associated with it and you can simply double click it to launch it.
Looks and functionality
Brinked Ringtone Maker is not aesthetically impressive but it brims with features, for a gadget. The developer makes available an audio player for the already prepared ringtones and the possibility to search the database for more alternatives.
There is also a button that should allow downloading them, but it did not work in our case. The second part of the gadget is the actual creation of the trimmed audio file.
The supported formats are MP3, WAV and OGG and you can also provide a link to a YouTube video in order to process the audio information. However, during our tests it failed to do anything because it failed to takes to the next step, which should have allowed cutting the audio piece.
Conclusion
The gadget managed to play the ringtones listed in the player but this was the extent of its capabilities from what we’ve seen.
There are sufficient alternatives on the market, both desktop applications and web services, though, that can accomplish the job without too much hassle. All they have to do is provide the possibility to nip the audio piece so that it plays the exact part desired by the user.
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Steampunk Media Player for Konfabulator
Listen to your music using a steampunk-themed media player that offers several useful functions, with this lightweight Yahoo widget.
While there are numerous advanced media players you can use to listen to music on your PC, a stylish widget can perform this task while also improving the appearance of your desktop.
Steampunk Media Player for Konfabulator is a simple Yahoo widget that enables you to play audio files using a steampunk-themed player. It is easy to use and can be customized to a great extent. Of course, the Yahoo! Widget Engine is required to install and launch this component.
Basic audio player that may not be good enough for music buffs
It should be noted from the get-go that Steampunk Media Player for Konfabulator is a very simple widget, so you should not expect it to offer the various advanced functions provided by more complex music players.
You can select the audio files you wish to play, control the volume, navigate between songs and shuffle the tracks, as well as bring up the playlist to manage the imported files. However, an equalizer is not available.
Stylish media player inspired by steampunk artwork
If you are familiar with the steampunk subgenre, you should know that to expect from Steampunk Media Player for Konfabulator. Its visual design is certainly unique, and it should look great on your desktop.
However, the textures lose their sharpness when you increase the widget’s dimensions, although this should not be too noticeable unless you use the full-sized player.
Easy-to-use, customizable media player widget
It is possible to have the widget execute a certain command when double-clicking the player, and you can also define a default music folder, change the widget’s opacity and lock its position on your desktop.
Moreover, you can configure the player to ignore all mouse input, which is particularly useful when the widget is set to remain on top of all other windows.
In conclusion, Steampunk Media Player for Konfabulator is a simple Yahoo widget that enables you to listen to your music using a steampunk-themed audio player. It offers plenty of customization options, but it is, overall, a relatively simple utility that does not provide enthusiasts with a particularly extensive array of features.
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Steampunk Volume XWidget
A simple to use widget, that enables you to easily control the general sound volume on your computer, as well as to mute/restore it.
Steampunk Volume XWidget is a reliable tool for computer volume adjustment, that you can position anywhere on your desktop, as well as to toggle its opacity. The special feature of this widget is that it enlivens your desktop with its steampunk design. You can easily adjust the computer volume in real time, with this vintage looking widget.
Stylish volume controller
Steampunk Volume XWidget is a simple to use tool that enables you to control the computer’s sound volume in a stylish way. The widget is simple and does not add new features to your system’s functionality, but it complements your steampunk style, wallpaper or desktop theme. The widget resembles a trumpet, the slider representing the volume control.
A numeric indicator at the top of the widget indicates the percentage of the computer’s volume capacity. You can notice that the Windows integrated volume control tool modifies according to your adjustments in the widget.
Transparency and repositioning
The widget allows you to customize its layout and functionality, with the help of the two Settings windows. You can control its size, position, opacity, angle and priority using the XWidget engine’s settings, or you can modify the tool’s own attributes. Thus, you may assign it a different Windows function, that the sound control or set the tooltip message.
Double clicking on the widget prompts the Windows sound settings window, which allows you to modify the playback/recording devices. Right click on the widget prompts the context menu, which allows you to access the Preferences window or to change the XWidget settings.
Steampunk volume controller on your desktop
This simple to use widget allows you to modify the general sound volume for your system, while complementing your steampunk style. The polished brass elements and the musical instrument resemblance can offer a vintage, classic look to the wallpaper on your screen. Moreover, you can easily mute all the sounds or restore the volume to the most recent setting.
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Full Size Synth Piano
A gadget that allows you to play the piano with the keyboard and the mouse, providing popular songs that you can practice with the instrument.
Full Size Synth Piano is a gadget that allows you to practice the piano, being mainly designed for fun purposes rather than professional use.
It is aimed at amateurs who want to experiment with the sounds of a piano, allowing users to do just that with the aid of a simple keyboard and mouse.
As opposed to the majority of the applications of its type, Full Size Synth Piano comes in the form of a widget, a less common approach for music practice.
Because of this, it gathers all of the features in a minimalistic interface that may seem a little crowded at first due to the many buttons and functions incorporated in the main GUI.
Most of the space in the gadget is reserved for the piano layout, which should be familiar to all users. Those of you who haven’t experienced with this instrument before can trigger the Note view, which allows for the visualizations of the musical notes on top of the piano keys.
Playing the instrument can be done with the aid of your keyboard. You can do it with your mouse too, but you need to adjust the speed of the cursor in order to play it properly (otherwise you’ll play even two notes at a time).
The program also includes some sample music that can be played in conjunction with your piano practice for fun purposes. Other highlights include echo effects, loops, as well as a trainer module that displays notes for popular songs by artists such as Beethoven.
All in all, Full Size Synth Piano is an entertaining application that can help beginners to practice piano playing at no cost. The major downside that causes a dose of discomfort are the ads that seem omnipresent in the main window of the program.
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MP3 Download
A simple-to-use and compact gadget that allows you to listen to sample songs and buy them on Amazon, while running on low system resources.
MP3 Download is a lightweight audio gadget whose purpose is to help you listen to various songs and buy them from the Amazon website.
It boasts a clean and simplistic layout that offers a few configuration settings to tinker with.
The gadget gives users the possibility to select the desired song, play, pause or stop the current audio selection, go to the previous or next audio file, and adjust the volume. On the downside, you are allowed to listen only to small parts of the song.
What’s more, the application is able to display images, and lets you access the website with your web browser, and view details and rating information for each song by simply hovering the mouse cursor over the desired song.
It doesn’t come packed with many configuration settings of its own, and for this reason even rookies can make the most out of every single built-in feature.
Last but not least, you can move the gadget to any area of the screen, make it stay on top of other utilities and this proves to be pretty useful especially when working with multiple tools at the same time, as well as adjust the opacity.
During our testing we have noticed that MP3 Download carries out a task quickly, provides very good audio and image quality, and no errors showed up throughout the entire process. As it would be expected from such a small utility, it remains light on system resources, so it doesn’t hamper computer performance, nor interfere with other programs’ functionality.
All things considered, MP3 Download proves to be a simple desktop enhancement utility that gives you a hand when it comes to listening to sample songs and buying them. It can be mastered by all types of users, regardless of their experience level.
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XRadio Gadget
Non-obtrusive and simple-to-use sidebar gadget dedicated to XRadio aficionados, as it enables them to listen to it from their desktop.
XRadio Gadget is a tiny software program which enables people passionate about XRadio to listen to it anytime they want, from their desktop.
After download, this type of tool automatically installs to your hard drive, without issues. The interface it presents you with has quite a simple and user-friendly design and thus, allows anybody to easily work with it, be they experienced or not with computers.
The main window enables you to use a play/pause buttons, and displays XRadio’s logo, the name of the artist and song currently playing. Clicking on the aforementioned label opens a new tab in your default web browser with the developer’s website, while clicking another area routes you to the radio’s daily schedule.
The volume can only be controlled from the Windows mixer, as this widget does not feature a volume bar, which is considered to be a small drawback.
Right-clicking on this software utility brings up a context menu, which closely resembles most Windows Gadgets. It enables you to add more gadgets, as well as move or close this one. Aside from that, you can control the opacity level (from 20% to 100%) and force it always stay on top of all other opened programs.
To conclude, XRadio Gadget is a fairly decent piece of software, and a pretty good choice for those of you who like Xradio. It has a good response time, an intuitive environment and our tests have revealed it is quite friendly to the system’s resources. However, due to the lack of options, power users might be driven away.
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